Museum Info

Harvest the energy of the wind, Sun, rain and Earth in a new eco-friendly home, located on the first floor of the Boonshoft Museum. The PNC Be Green House features “green” technology that allows visitors to experience life in a low-impact 21st century house, explores how to incorporate naturally-renewable materials into daily life, and showcases emerging technologies in architecture, design, engineering and construction.

Have you ever questioned our place in the universe? Study astronomy in the Hall of the Universe, where a stroll through the cosmos lets you touch the moon, learn about our galaxy, and explore the beautiful, intriguing complexities of space. 

Learn more about Astronomy at the Boonshoft Museum.

Discovery Zoo

Why do animals look the way they do? From a skunk’s stripe to a kinkajou’s prehensile tail, learn why each creature has its own special shapes, colors and adaptations. Encounter animals from across the globe as you meet Meerkats, get a closer look a prickly Prehensile Tailed Porcupines, and come face-to-face with the Museum's beloved River Otters, Shiloh and Sushi..
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Construct a perfect pinecone birdfeeder! Get in a sticky situation by concocting some gooey slime. Make it snow in August! In Oscar Boonshoft Science Central, hands-on science makes everything possible—and fun.

Do some grocery shopping, become a veterinarian, tune up a car, preside over a trial, and learn the importance of recycling—it’s all part of the educational fun of Explorers Crossing, where kids discover their potential to be whatever they dream of.

A remarkable permanent exhibit space, the Mead Treehouse is just that: a fully-enclosed treehouse that extends beyond the traditional walls of the Museum to grant better access to the natural world. While inside, learn about environmental preservation, enjoy a story hour, do some bird watching, and even catch an animal talk featuring one of the Museum’s resident animals.

Are you looking for a safe, hands-on play area for your youngest ones? That Kids’ Playce provides an expansive, sheltered place for fun, interactive activity for children ages 6 and younger.

No visit to the Museum would be complete without a visit to one of its oldest inhabitants, Nesiur the Mummy. Find her in the African Room, where you’ll also discover fascinating African artifacts like traditional pottery, jewelry, and even a replica of the Rosetta Stone.